Light… Something that those of us living in northern climates this time of year don’t see a lot of.
Light… Good News that was unwrapped for us as Immanuel–God With Us in the nativity.
Light… That Epiphany reminds us shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Bernadette Farrell writes of our dark reality and deepest longing in Christ, Be Our Light…
Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see. Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
As the long winter days brighten and as the dark and cold swirls all around us, the light of Christ glows, warms and enlightens our days and the most bitter of nights. The Epiphany season is a reminder that… Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends. 2 Timothy 1:10 (CEV)
In Until the Whole World Hears, Casting Crowns sings about this reminder and our call to do God’s work through our hands: “Lord I want to feel your heart and see the world through your eyes. I want to be your hands and feet. I want to live a life that leads… Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night. May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise until the whole world hears we are calling out. Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound, like voices in the wilderness we’re crying out. As the day draws near we’ll sing until the whole world hears.”
For me the verse that speaks to me loudest is part sharing that Epiphany light and part New Year’s resolution: “Want to be your hands and feet, want to be a life that leads. To see you set the captive free, until the whole world hears. And I pray that they will see more of you and less of me. Lord I want my life to be the song you sing.” Your work, my hands… but more of you Lord, and less of me I pray. Amen.
Signs Along the Way… 